My Ethnic Identity

My personal cultural background was full of many experiences that I carry with me from day to day to remind me what used to be. I grew up in what one would describe to be an upper middle class setting. I am the middle child of five. I have two sisters and two brothers; one of each gender older and younger. We were brought up in a single parent household, raised by our mom. We were afforded certain luxuries because of our mom’s work history with the federal government and the U.S. Air Force. My response to all of this may influence my future teaching styles and habits. Then the amount of interaction or close association I have experienced with people whose cultural context is different from mine has also played a big role in how I perceive and look at things. The impact of this has greatly shaped what I do from day to day.

I grew up an average student with much potential. I feel that because I did not come out as an overachiever I was more understanding and experienced instruction that is more compassionate. When I did not understand something, my instructors would reach out a helping hand and guide me along the path to understanding. This showed me that they not only cared about their competency but whether or not I excelled in their classes. Overall, it was quite a tranquil and caring setting where I felt as if I actually mattered.

In response, I feel that they have greatly influenced not only my wanting to be a teacher but also how I will reach out to my students. How they took the time out to help me not only when it came to academics but also in personal endeavors. My speaking styles and ways in which I perform certain tasks already resemble some of those of my favorite instructors. That being said I can only assume that my teaching styles will also follow along the lines of their strategies that were observed by me while in their classes.

The amount of interaction or close association I have experienced with people whose cultural context is different than my own is probably a bit more than those of some my peers. Starting firstly with my family integrating the neighborhood in which I live. I attended a prominent black Baptist church as I was growing up. At the time the recreation center was too far for us to walk to or ride our bikes to, therefore we went to a Jewish community center, which had the closest recreation facility. That along with traveling with various school and county organizations to different places and participating in an array of different programs of study; I was able become more rounded culturally. This was further established when I came to college where I met different people from different places by coming to college. Along the way, I also learned that not all people of African descent who looked like me were like me. To exemplify, I met many people who I though were African Americans who were actually Jamaican, Dominican, etc. that in itself was a big learning experience.

This impact of this made me more aware of the different circumstantial backgrounds of others. It has made me to be a very well rounded individual because of all of the exposure I have gotten from my childhood to this point in my life. Lastly, the impact of my personal cultural background experience has given me an unprecedented ability to accept and learn more avidly open-mindedly. The cause and affect of such and occurrence is something that will be with me forever not only as a teacher but also when it comes to performing other tasks.